We don't need to prove the authenticity of religion from science

Many times, I have seen this approach online and in real life as well, that people associate religious commandments with scientific research and then boast about the authenticity of religion. 'Look! science is telling us this today while our religion informed us about it fourteen hundred years ago. Wow! What a true religion we have! 

As a humble student of science and religion, I would like to say, this approach is irrational and it does not prove anything. It seems that you trust science more than you believe in revelation. This approach is dangerous and wrong. Are we going to accept a religious principle if it is proven by science? It is a possibility that we may find many principles and commandments of religion that are approved by scientific studies but it should be taken as a coincidence only, instead of trying to prove the validity of religion through science. Similarly pondering over religious commandments is another thing, and proving the authenticity of religious commandments through scientific research would be a biased strategy. 

The domain of religion is "metaphysics" while science deals with 'physics' and 'matter'. We should not be proving one domain from another. We should be taking advantage and benefits of both domains instead of crossing over the domains without the specialized knowledge of either domain. Real religious scholars like our 'Marja' never interfere or pass opinions about domains they don't belong to! Covid-19 virus, its vaccination, and all the myths and conspiracy theories surrounding it is a recent example of how unnecessary involvement in different domains leads people astray. 

Quran tells us 

كَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا فِيكُمْ رَسُولًا مِنْكُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِنَا وَيُزَكِّيكُمْ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمْ مَا لَمْ تَكُونُوا تَعْلَمُونَ {151}

[Shakir 2:151] We have sent among you a Messenger from among you who recites to you Our communications and purifies you and teaches you the Book and the wisdom and teaches you that which you did not know.

Prophet introduces you to what you could not know. If there were no prophets, we could not have access to many branches of knowledge. They are not only leaders at the moral and social levels but also leaders in all fields of knowledge. Without their guidance, no field of knowledge would have been properly established. 

It is obvious that scientific research changes with time, with conditions, advancements, with new inventions. Classical physics laws are no longer obeyed in Quantum physics. Matter changes its properties at the nanoscale. The fundamentals, principles, and commandments of religion do not change. Any deed described as 'lawful' (halal) by Prophet Muhammad (SAWW) will remain lawful until the Day of Judgement while any act described as 'unlawful' (haram) by the last Prophet will be unlawful until Resurrection Day. Any practice, no matter, how much science emphasizes its importance and benefits through various studies (let's take homosexuality as an example) and experiments, cannot find any place in religion. It is irrational and illogical to prove religion from Science. It is itself a biased approach. If you find any scientific research in accordance with beliefs, you praise it, and what would be your reaction if it is against religious principles? Would you accept it? or would you reject it? if you accept it you are going against the divine teachings, if you reject it, it depicts your biased approach and already predefined criteria of acceptance!

It is evident that not using science as a tool for proving religion does not imply that religion is against science or that Muslims do not need to excel and progress in different scientific disciplines. 

This content was produced after taking inspiration from this video

Islam and Science | Do we need science to prove the existence of God?

Dr. Sayyed Rehan Naqvi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eL6rsHfdKQ